Etihad Airways supports surgical relief for leprosy victims in Nepal

Kathmandu, NEPAL – Etihad Airways is once again supporting UK-based charity Working Hands by flying out a team of surgeons to help leprosy patients in Nepal.

Also
supported by Nepalese domestic carrier Yeti Airlines, the surgeons are carrying
out their charitable work at the Lalgadh Leprosy Hospital, situated in the south
east agricultural flatlands of the country.

The
hospital treats daily up to 400 leprosy patients who have symptoms ranging from
dermatological conditions to severe paralysis. As the leprosy sufferers are
primarily farmers and labourers, having the use of their hands restored is
essential to their ability to work and the very reason that Dr. Donald Sammut,
who leads the team, has focused on this particular group.

“Our
primary aim is to see and treat patients whose hands have been paralysed by
leprosy, allowing healthy muscles to provide the function of grip and dexterity
which is essential to these populations,” he said.

The
programme comprises both direct surgeries on approximately 60 patients and also
in the teaching of local doctors. The team this year consists of three
surgeons, including Dr. Sammut, an anaesthetist and two hand therapists.

Accompanying
them this year is Linden Coppell, Etihad Airways Head of Sustainability, who
said: “We are proud to support such a dedicated team of doctors who give up
their free time to travel to Nepal, not only to change the lives of those they
operate on, but leave a lasting legacy through their dedicated mentoring of the
local surgeons.”

The
surgeons took with them essential operating equipment and also items such as
sterilisers, diagnostic kits and other operating equipment, which is largely donated
to Working Hands.

For
the last five years, Etihad Airways has provided flights to the surgeons and
their team travelling from the UK to Nepal, and also excess baggage required
for the large amount of equipment, much of which remains at the hospital.

This
year, Yeti Airlines has also offered its support by providing complimentary
excess baggage for the internal flight from Kathmandu to Janakpur, close to
Lalgadh, significantly reducing the charity’s administrative costs.

Ang
Tshering, Managing Director of Yeti Airlines, said: “We are pleased to support
Working Hands, which is providing remarkable assistance to leprosy sufferers in
the region. And we are delighted to have helped Etihad Airways in their ongoing
efforts to support a very worthy cause in our country.”